Tension Over Fresh Crude Oil Discovery In Delta Community
Crude oil discovery has sparked a dispute in Okpe-Isoko community, Delta State, with the Adhakpor family rejecting a purported land lease agreement allegedly entered into with Sterling Global Limited for the exploration and development of the oil-bearing property.
The Adhakpor family rejected a purported lease agreement allegedly executed by individuals claiming to represent it, saying they had no authority or mandate to act on its behalf.
In a statement, the family said it neither authorised nor mandated any individual or group to negotiate, execute or enter into any lease agreement, Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, or any related document with Sterling Global Limited concerning its land.
Describing the purported transaction as unauthorised and unacceptable, the family stressed that no individual could validly bind it to any agreement without a specific mandate duly granted by it.
It further stated that its duly constituted and elected executives, together with other authorised representatives, had been formally empowered to represent the family’s interests and handle negotiations, engagements and documentation relating to its land.
The family, therefore, disassociated itself from any agreement, commitment or undertaking purportedly entered into by persons acting without its express authorisation, warning that such actions should not be construed as representing its position or interests.
According to the family, the authorised representatives emerged from a resolution reached at its general meeting held on October 4, 2026.
It consequently directed that all negotiations, documentation, execution and implementation of any lease or other transaction involving the Adhakpor family’s land must henceforth be conducted exclusively through the duly authorised representatives presented by the family.
The family also made it clear that it does not recognise or accept any purported lease, MOU or related document entered into by persons who were not duly authorised to represent it.
It warned all parties, prospective investors and other stakeholders dealing with the family’s land to ensure that they engage only with the duly recognised representatives, saying any transaction undertaken outside the authority granted by the family would be without its mandate and should not be construed as binding on the Adhakpor family.
“This position is intended to ensure transparency, accountability, proper representation, unity, peace, and the protection of the rights and interests of the Adhakpor family.” The statement stated.
Meanwhile, the Adhakpor family alleged that a community leader, in collaboration with some members of the community, unlawfully introduced persons who are not members of the family into the negotiation committee. The family strongly objected to the development, saying that only duly recognised members of the Adhakpor family should be involved in any committee constituted to negotiate or deliberate on matters concerning the family’s interests.
Reacting to the development, the Head of the Adhakpor family, Chief Ide Abade, told Sunday Vanguard that he was arrested by the community leadership over his opposition to the purported lease agreement with Sterling Global Limited.
He added that the family had concluded plans to seek redress through the courts as non-members of the family had no authority to negotiate or enter into any agreement concerning the family’s land.
Similarly, the President of the Okpe-Isoko Community, Chief Fred Efeh, told Sunday Vanguard that the Adhakpor family was duly represented on the committee constituted to negotiate the lease agreement.
Efeh said the controversy arose from a disagreement between two branches, or “gates,” of the Adhakpor family over ownership of the land where an oil well was discovered.
His words: “The Adhakpor family they are talking about has two gates. It is one of the gates that has come to complain.”
He explained that one branch claimed its forefather had shared the land and that the portion where the oil was discovered belonged exclusively to it.
“One of the gates said their father had shared that land. And the portion where the oil is, is solely their own”.
Efeh, however, said the other branch maintained that proceeds from the land, including palm trees and other natural resources, should benefit the entire Adhakpor family.
“The other one is saying, no, that the palm trees and all other natural resources that may come from there are supposed to be for all of them, not only one gate of the Adhakpor family”.
He said following the discovery of the oil well, the company involved in the exploration approached the traditional institution and the community, in line with established procedures.
“So when the oil exploration came, the company duly, as ought to be done, came to the palace and came to the community. I, as the president general, was present”, he added.
According to him, after the necessary consultations, a negotiation committee comprising representatives of the two branches of the Adhakpor family was constituted.
“After fulfilling all normal ways of entering the land, we started negotiation. So the family, these two gates, we now formed a committee for negotiation, where the Adhakpor family people were truly represented,” he said.
Efeh, however, said some representatives later withdrew from the negotiation, leading to the current dispute.
“As we were going along on the negotiation, they withdrew,” he said, adding that the disagreement centred on the composition of the committee.
His position contrasts with that of the Adhakpor family, which has rejected the purported lease agreement and maintained that the persons involved lacked the mandate to represent the family or enter into any agreement concerning its land.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Community Relations Manager, Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), Mr. Rotimi Bakari, were unsuccessful.
Bakari said that he could not respond to the queries over the telephone and requested that the correspondent visit his office in Warri, Delta State, for further discussion.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the traditional ruler of the community, the Ovie of Okpe-Isoko, proved unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to his telephone lines were neither answered nor responded to as of press time.
